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For nearly 250 years the members of the Royal Academy have pondered long and hard over the issues facing the artistic world before casting their vote, whether over the staging of exhibitions or the running of the institution founded by King George III.

But their deliberations may just become that little bit more intriguing after the appointment of the London-based art duo Gilbert & George to the academy.

Although two separate people, Italian-born Gilbert Prousch, 73, and George Passmore, 75, from Devon, will have a just a single vote on matters before the RA.

Although two separate people, Italian-born Gilbert Prousch, 73, and George Passmore, 75, from Devon, will have a just a single vote on matters before the RA.
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Caption: Credit:
David Rose

This is because they regard themselves as one artistic entity. And that procedural conundrum certainly raises the prospect of a protracted quarrel should they ever fall out over a particular issue.

Unfortunately the pair - sorry, the artist - has chosen not to reveal how he will approach such a tricky situation.

The voting rule does not extend to the RA’s social occasions, when both Gilbert and George will be allocated two places and each allowed to invite a guest each.

This is the first time in the academy's history that a duo has been elected by the institution’s general assembly as one Royal Academician.

Christopher Le Brun, President of the Royal Academy, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Gilbert & George to the Royal Academy; the election of two people as one artist member is the first of its kind in the history of the Academy.”

The RA said that an artist duo can join the Academy in two ways, either individually as two members able to each cast separate vote, or as a single unit.

This is the first time in the academy's history that a duo has been elected by the institution’s general assembly as one Royal Academician. Credit:
Paul Grover

A spokesman added: “The election of Gilbert & George is a first for the Academy in that we have elected them as one Royal Academician, as they consider themselves as one artist, and as such they have one vote.”

The admission of Gilbert & George to the RA paves the way for other artistic collaborations to be made royal academicians, including the likes of Jake and Dinos Chapman, once the enfant terribles of the Brit Art scene.

Last year’s Summer Exhibition at the RA saw the work of 20 artistic duos displayed, including Jane and Louise Wilson, Tim Noble and Sue Webster, Pierre et Gilles and Eva and Adele, The academy said that the election of future duos and collaborations would depend on how the artists define themselves and whether they consistently exhibition as one. The RA said: “Much will depend on how the artists define themselves and their customary exhibition practice.”

Gilbert & George, who live together in London, began collaborating in 1967 when they met at St Martin’s School of Art. From the beginning they appeared as figures in their own art, whether in films or as ‘living sculptures’.

The backdrop for much of their art is the capital’s East End and its streets have inspired their examination of social issues, including racism, patriotism, addiction and corruption.

Their biographical note issued by the RA states that the duo consider that “everything is potential subject matter for their art, and they have always addressed social issues, taboos and artistic conventions”.

It adds: “Implicit in their art is the idea that an artist’s sacrifice and personal investment is a necessary condition of art. They have depicted themselves as naked figures in their own pictures, recasting the male nude as something vulnerable and fragile rather than as a potent figure of strength.”

The pair, who are often seen walking through East London in identical outfits, say they first formed their unique partnership because George was the only person who could understand Gilbert's poor English.